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APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. H215- Putented Aug. 1, 1916.

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Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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FLANGE CONTROLLING MECHANISM,

APFLICATEON FILED APR 13. HHS.

G. P. BRAND.

FLANGE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13. 1915.

aiiodnma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. BRAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLANGE-CONTROLLIN G MECHANISM.

Application filed April 13, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. BRAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flange-Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for automatically controlling the flanges of a take up spool in automatic musical instruments and the like, said means being controlled by the note sheet and thus rendering the spool applicable for note sheets of different widths. The mechanism which controls the flanges serves to set the latter or retain them in fixed position after once adjusted to the width of sheet, and may be controlled from the note sheet in a variety of ways.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide centralizing means and pneumatically controlled music openings or ports in combination with the automatic adjustable flanges, thereby accurately delivering the music on the take-up spool and holding it always in tact after being delivered. In devices of this character employing fixed flanges it has been necessary to space such flanges a suflicient distance apart to take in the greatest width of sheet, usually allowing a little space so that the edges of the sheet do not contact with the flanges. Having too much room for the music sheet on the take-up spool between the flanges on large rolls of music causes bad re-winding and inaccurate results because it wanders from side to side and makes it wind loose and the core will shift back and forth. The sheet is thus wound unevenly and the one edge will at times engage the one flange and then the other edge will engage the other flange. The disadvantageous results will be readily understood. Furthermore, where tracking devices are employed in conjunction with take-up spools having fixed flanges this uneven winding throws a great deal more work on the tracking device and distorts the music and, consequently, unsatisfactory results are attained. My present invention overcomes these objections. Furthermore, my present improvement insures satisfactory results.

In conjunction with the movable flange I employ automatically movable sheet controlled means operating in unison therewith,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Serial No. 21,164.

In the present instance, I have chosen to show such sheet controlled means in the form of movably mounted ports or openings controlled by the music sheet and in turn controlling the movable flanges, but it is to be understood that this is but one form of sheet controlled means that may be employed in connection with the movable flanges hereinbefore described. I may also employ in conjunction with the note sheet controlled and controlling devices hereinbefore referred to, means for moving the music spool in conjunction with said aforenamed devices, although this latter may sometimes be omitted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my pres ent improvement. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the lower portion thereof showing the various pneumatic connections. Fig. 8 is a top plan with the top of the music box and other portions removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical section from front to rear, as on the line 4ll of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 isa bottom plan. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the music spool actuating pneumatics. Fig. 7 is a plan of the valve chest.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the different views.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only such parts of a mechanical musical instrument as pertain directly to the present invention, it being understood that the parts not shown or described may be of any conventional or approved form and connected and arranged to operate in the usual manner.

In these drawings, 1 is the music box, 2 the tracker, 3 the take-up spool, 4 the music spool, 5 the spindles of the latter and 6 a perforated note sheet, all of well known construction. The flanges 7 of the take-up spool are movable in the direction of the length of the shaft 8. They are designed to be moved inward simultaneously toward each other by the following means. At each end of the music spool box, in the present instance shown as at the bottom thereof where they are out of the way and can be excluded from dust, etc., I atlix a pneumatic 10, and each pneumatic carries upon its movable leaf, a rod or the like 11 which extends upward through a slot in the part1- tion or bottom board 12 of the spool box, as seen best in Fig. The member 11 may be secured in any suitable manner to its pneumatic, one convenient form being shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of each member 11 extends preferably above the shaft 8 of the take-up spool so as to exert its influence at a point above said shaft upon a member 13 which extends downward through a slot 1-.l; in the member 12, as clearly seen in Fig. 4, and is, intermediate its ends, sleeved upon the shaft 8 so as to move freely thereon and to engage against the hub 15 of the adjacent flange 7, as seen in Fig. 1. This member 13 is connected at its upper end in any suitable manner with means carrying a movable port or opening 16 shown in this instance as movable in an elongated slot 17 near the end of the trackerbar, it being understood that there is one of these carried by each member 13 and, consequently, one near each end of the tracker-bar, as seen in Fig. 1. These ports are controlled by the margin or sur face of the note sheet, as will hereinafter appear. Each of these ports 16 is connected by flexible tube or the like 18 with a passage 19 in the coupling block 20, which passage leads through the passage 21 and the tube or the like 22 to a diaphragm chamber 23, or 21-, see Figs. 6 and 7, of which 25, see Fig. 6, is one of the diaphragms.

26 is a valve chamber, one for each diaphragm chamber, see Fig. 6.

27 is a communication between the tension chamber 28 and the valve chamber 26.

29 is a port or opening leading from the valve chamber 26 to the atmosphere as do the ports and 31.

30 and 31 are valves controlling the ports or passages 27 and 29 respectively, as seen clearly in Fig. 6, said valves being carried by a common stem 32 guided in any suitable manner.

35 and 36 are pnemnatics having their movable boards or members connected by a rod 37 so that they move in unison. These pneumatics are attlxed upon opposite sides of the valve chest 38, and in the fixed member of each pneumatic is a passage 39 which communicates with a passage 4:0 in the valve block and this, in turn, by means of a pas sage a1 with a passage 12 which, in turn, communicates by passage 43 with the valve chamber 26, all as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Tubes 43: connect with the passages 42 and 4:3 and with the pneumatics 10, as seen clearly in Fig. 2. Between each passage 41 and the passage 42 there is a restriction 45, as seen in Fig. 6, to retard the inflation and deflation of the pneumatics 35 and 36.

4-6 is a tube aflording communication between the exhaust mechanism (not shown) and the tension chamber 28, as seen in Figs. 2 and 6. The two tension chambers 28 are connected by a passage 17 shown in Fig. 6. The members 13 are extended in opposite directions toward each other, as seen in Fig. 3, and their adjacent ends are pivotally connected, as at 18 and 19, with opposite ends of a lever 50 pivoted between its ends, as at 51, so that the flanges 7 will be moved in unison.

The pneumatic 35 has connected thereto one end of a rod 52, the other end of which is pivotally connected, as at 53, with the lower end of the vertical bar 51 pivotally mounted between its ends, as at 55, on a lateral support 56 extending from the end of the box 1, as seen in Fig. 1. To the upper end of the bar 51 is pivotally connected, as at 57, a rod or link 58, the outer end of which is adjustably connected, as at 59, with the depending portion 60 of a U-shaped member 61, the other depending member 62 of which supports one end of the shaft (33 which carries the sprocket wheel 61- of the drive mechanism.

65 is another U-shaped member rigidly secured to the member 61 to move therewith, and in one depending member 66 the shaft 63 is supported while in the other depending portion 67 the left hand spindle is mounted, as seen in Fig. 1.

68 are uprights having at their upper ends pins or the like 69 loosely engaged in the adjacent portion of the U-shaped member 65, being mounted at their lower ends so as to have the necessary oscillatory movement to allow the U-shaped members to move with the greatest freedom.

Vith the parts constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, the operation, briefly stated, is as follows:- Fig. 1 shows the parts in position for starting to play. The roll is in position and upon drawing the note sheet over the tracker bar and fastening it to the take-up spool in the usual manner and starting to play, the ports 16 and the flanges 7 being outside the edge of the sheet, tension is supplied to the tension chambers 28, and air enters into the diaphragm chambers 32 through the ports 16 and connections, lifting the valves 30, 31 shutting off the atmosphere, causing the pneumatics 10 on each side of the box to partially collapse, carrying the flanges 7 toward the note sheet and the ports 16 also toward the note sheet until one or both are practically covered thereby or sutliciently covered, thereby bringing the note sheet central, to cause the valves 30 and 31 to return to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 6. The springs 100, acting on the flanges 7 against the pressure of the neumatics, have a tendency to force the ports 16 outward, which causes fluctuation of the valves 30 and 31. If the note sheet starts to move to the right or left, say to the right, to a slight degree, the flanges 7 being against opposite edges of the sheet, the ports 16 will remain stationary and the valve corresponding to the right hand port will be in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 6, and the valve corresponding to the left hand port will be in the reverse position. Consequently, the pneumatic 35 will start to collapse, bringing the sheet back to its central position. During the lateral movements of the sheet, the flanges are held stationary by the pneumatics 10; hence the flanges are not caused to leave the edges of the sheet, as one or the other of the pneumatics 10 is always under tension. Likewise, this holding of the flanges serves to minimize the movement of the ports 16, thereby practically giving fixed ports to accommodate any width of sheet, and at the same time minimizing the lateral deviation of the sheet, as the ports 16 are automatically self-adjusting to the closest relation to the sheet. The flanges and the ports 16 move together under all conditions. \Vhile in the present structure I have provision for the ports 16 being normally out beyond the edges of the sheet, a reversal of this effect may be produced and the holes or ports 16 normally inward so as to be under the margins of the sheet when it is first introduced into the machine, by revers ing the pneumatics 10 so that they will tend to pull the flanges 7 outward instead of inward, and by reversing the valves so they will collapse the said pneumatics from beneath the sheet, to move the ports outward. It is to be understood that in this arrange ment the flanges will normally be of a lesser distance apart than the width of the sheet, but will be moved outward to accommodate the sheet before the edges thereof reach said flanges, the ports having by this time moved outward to their first inoperative position, assuming the same position as do the ports in the construction hereinbefore described, ready to assume their duties as control openings for keeping the sheet in central position and holding the flanges in close relation with the sheet.

It will be seen that with the flanges and ports controlled so as to automatically adjust themselves to the most accurate relation with the sheet, the said ports are in position to control. sheet centralizing mechanism therefrom to keep the sheet practically absolutely central, with practically no deviations whatsoever, it being imperceptible to the eye.

I have shown one form of trans-mission mechanism and its operating pneumatics for use in connection with the flange controlling r mechanism and the ports 16 and their connections, but it is to be understood that this form is herein illustrated merely for the purpose of making clear the connection between the post-operative devices and the music spool, but it is to be understood that the invention is in no wise restricted to this particular construction and connection of the transmission mechanism.

Modifications in details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advan tages.

WVhat is claimed as new and useful is 1. A take-up spool with relatively movable flanges, and means under control of the surface of a note sheet for moving said flanges.

2. In a device of the character described, a take-up spool having movable flanges, pneumatic means for moving the flanges, and means controlled by the surface of a note sheet for causing the pneumatic means to move said flanges.

3. A take-up spool with relatively mov able flanges and pneumatic means under control of the surface of a note sheet for moving said flanges.

4. A spool having movable flanges, means under control of the surface of a note sheet, and pneumatic means and connections whereby said flanges and note sheet controlled means are actuated simultaneously. 5. A spool having movable flanges, means under control of the surface of a note sheet, and pneumatic means and connections whereby said flanges and note sheet controlled means are actuated simultaneously in opposite directions.

6. In a device of the character described, movable flanges automatically movable, and means under control of the surface of a note sheet for moving said flanges.

7. In a device of the character described,

movable flanges automatically controlled by able flanges, and means under control of the surface of a note sheet for moving said flanges, said flanges being held in close relation with the sheet.

11. In a device of the character described, a spool having relatively movable flanges &

and movable means under control of the surface of a note sheet for moving said flanges.

12. In a device of the character described, a take-up spool having movable flanges and movable sheet controlled means, said flanges and means being under control of the surface of a note sheet and automatically adpistable to the most accurate relation with the sheet.

13. In a device of the character described, a take-up spool having movable flanges and movable sheet controlled means, said flanges and means under control of the surface of a note sheet and beingautomatically adjustable to the most accurate relation with the sheet, and sheet centralizing mechanism controlled thereby.

ll. A take-up spool having relatively movable flanges, an endwise movable music spool, and means controlled by the surface of a note sheet for controlling said flanges and music spool.

15. A take-up spool having relatively movable flanges, an endwise movable music spool, and movable means controlled by the surface of a note sheet for controlling said flanges and music spool.

10. A take-up spool having movable flanges, an endwise movable music spool, and means controlled by the surface of a note sheet for controlling said flanges and music spool, said flanges and means being movable in unison.

17. A take-up spool having movable flanges, an endwise movable music spool, and movable means controlled by the surface of a note sheet for controlling said flanges and music spool, said flanges and means being movable in unison.

18. In a device of the character described, a take-up spool having movable flanges, movable means under control of the surface of a note sheet for moving said flanges, pneumatic connections for moving said means and flanges in unison, and a centralizing device in cooperative relation there with.

19. A take-up spool with endwise movable flanges, movable means under control of the surface of a note sheet and movable with said flanges, and pneumatic means controlled by said means and controlling said flanges.

20. A take-up spool with endwise movable flanges, movable means under control of the surface of a note sheet and movable with said flanges, and pneumatic means controlled by said means and controlling said flanges in one direction.

21. A take-up spool with endwise movable flanges, movable means under control of the surface of a note sheet and movable with said flanges, pneumatic means controlled by said means and controlling said flanges in one direction, and means for moving said flanges in the opposite direction.

22. A take-up spool with endwise movable flanges, movable means under control of the surface of a note sheet and movable with said flanges, pneumatic means controlled by said means and controlling said flanges, and a centralizing mechanism under the control of said movable means.

A take-up spool with endwise movable flanges movable means under control of the surface ofa note sheet and movable with said flanges, pneumatic means controlled by said means and controlling said flanges in one direction, and a centralizing mechanism under the control of said movable means.

2i. A take-up spool with endwise movable flanges, movable means under control of the surface of a note sheet and movable with said flanges, pneumatic means controlled by said means and controlling said flanges in one direction, means for moving said flanges in the opposite direction, and a centralizing mechanism under the control of said movable means.

25. A spool with movable flanges, movable means under control of the surface of a note sheet and movable with said flanges, and pneumatic means controlled. by said means and movable in unison and also independently of each other.

26. A spool with automatically movable flanges, and automatic note sheet centralizing means, both controlled by the surface of a note sheet.

27. A spool with movable flanges, movable means at opposite sides of a note sheet controlled by the surface thereof for controlling said flanges, and a pneumatic for each of said movable means.

28. A spool with mo ."able flanges, movable means at opposite sides of a note sheet controlled by the surface thereof for controlling said flanges, and a pneumatic for each of said movable means, either of said pneumatics controlling said flanges and means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE 1. BRAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

